THE BRADENTON HERALD
USER-FRIENDLY, ELEGANT WATERSIDE'S
MANUFACTURED HOMES SPORT FLAIR

Published on: Sunday, April 23, 2006
Section: features
Edition: BRADENTON
Page: 1H
Byline: Melissa Followell, Herald Staff Writer

BRADENTON --- Cortez Windmill Village has gotten a new name and a new look. Now called Waterside Club, the 110-lot manufactured home park is getting a face-lift.

As park residents decide to sell their homes, owner Martin Newby will pay above market value for them. The homes are then removed and replaced by new manufactured homes. Based in Plant City, Palm Harbor Homes is the manufacturer building the homes, which can be customized based on the buyer's preferences.

"We let the homeowners use their imagination," Newby said. Ranging in price from $139,900 to $199,000, the homes start at 1,200 square feet. Those concerned about future land-use changes for the property can rest assured that the only changes planned are making the community more luxurious.

Newby Management has made a promise to buyers that they will buy back the property from them at cost if the property is sold for a land-use change within the next 20 years.

If there is a land-use change, the people that should own it are the residents," Newby said. The company is also helping residents battle the climbing cost of insurance by offering to pay half what exceeds $1,000 up to $1,000 for the first five years. This means if a homeowner was quoted $3,000 for property insurance, Newby would pick up $1,000 of that charge.

In order to make moving less of a hassle for those relocating from within or outside the park, the company's Smooth Move program helps by reimbursing residents up to $1,500 in moving costs. "Moving is traumatic. We try to make it as easy as possible," said sales manager Wiley Jones. Costs from physical help to packing supplies are applicable.

Waterside Club is a 55-plus community centered around an active brackish lake that is full of fish and other wildlife. Residents with water-view lots can enjoy the vista from within their homes; others need only walk a short distance in order to enjoy it from the neighborhood's dock. The new manufactured homes have a Key West flair and all have their own personality.

From the front porch, an ideal place for rocking chairs, to the large open home, the Pelican model offers storage, spaciousness and serenity. Enter the 1,640-square-foot home and find an openness not seen in manufactured homes of yore. Complete with cathedral ceilings, the large living room and kitchen have a designer flair. The kitchen is large enough to have an island in it in addition to the ample counter space.

Homeowners won't feel locked in to cabinet configurations either. Moveable shelves let the home's chef dictate where they should be. Bedrooms in the home are big enough to accommodate large bedroom furniture. Either one of the two guest rooms could be transformed into a computer room or den. The large master suite at the rear of the home is comparable to one found in standard construction homes. Large windows flank the bed, giving the room a warm glow. The dual vanity master bath has a stylish flair, with windows placed above the mirror. The bathroom doesn't skimp on storage either. High-quality cabinets, similar to those in the kitchen, have plenty of space for towels and toiletries.

Newby said the company has worked hard to raise the standard of manufactured living by offering a more user-friendly yet elegant home. One user-friendly item, ideal for seasonal residents, is a water shut-off valve found in the utility room. Gone are the days of climbing under the home.

The homes also meet higher hurricane standards than manufactured homes of the past. Palm Harbor Homes are rated to withstand winds up to 142 mph. "We have cleaned up after hurricanes," Newby said. "Once you do that, you don't want to have a property that comes apart in a hurricane."

Model: Pelican
Base price: $159,900
Amenities at Waterside Club: community pool and clubhouse, shuffleboard courts, lake views, laundry facility on site

Directions: Waterside Club is on the south side of Cortez Road just east of 34th Street West Information: 756-7068

Caption: PHOTO/Photos by PAUL GONZALEZ VIDELA/The Herald

The Pelican model is in the Waterside Club manufactured home community on Cortez Road. The Pelican model features a second bathroom with tile backsplash and skylight. Photos by PAUL GONZALEZ VIDELA/The Herald

The kitchen of the Pelican model is large enough to have an island in it in addition to the ample counter space. The 1,640-square-foot home features a spacious living room. The large master suite is comparable to one found in standard construction homes. The Pelican model comes complete with a combined laundry and utility room, at left. The manufactured home features a water shut-off valve in the utility room, ideal for seasonal residents. The homes also meet higher hurricane standards than manufactured homes of the past. Palm Harbor Homes are rated to withstand winds up to 142 mph.